Customize it, Baby

It's been a while since I delved into the realm of purposeful bags such as laptop cases, dog carriers, and one of the most difficult to find of all...diaper or "baby" bags.
Anyone who has looked into buying a diaper bag for themselves or a friend knows that the pickings can be slim...either they're utilitarian and boring, designer and outrageously expensive (when my eldest was born Kate Spade was the craze, and considered crazy expensive at about $300. Since then, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Coach and others have joined the baby club) , or in a pattern someone else thought was cute.
The last example, brings us to 1154 Lill Studio, a handbag company that offers custom options for all their bags, and styles suitable for diaper toting...which may be the draw. These are not really diaper bags, but bags that suit the purpose.

The Diana is a typical looking messenger style bag. Here it's shown in the pre-made Brown Utility combination, which caught my eye immediately, but say it;s not your thing. Select the custom option, and select from over 120 fabric choices for the flap, body, and center stripe.
The inside has a large zipper pocket, 2 slots, an open pocket, and a bonus pocket on the outside just under the flap. Plenty of room to store it all. At $160, it is also fabulously priced.


Another style suitable for diaper bagging without screaming it's purpose is the Donna style.


You can't fully appreciate just how large this style is in a photo, but it's plenty big. Shown here in the Birds of a feather fabric with dark brown trim, this bag has a more feminine edge to it. Where the Diana could be created as a unisex or even a daddy diaper bag, this one is just for moms.
There is a large inside zipper pocket that is the length of the bag, and 3 slot pockets, perfect for bottles, wipes, anything. The Diana is $180 either prefab, or custom, and the customizing includes the body, trim, and handles.
Because these are not solely diaper bags, you have to add a diaper pad for $16 to your order. Unfortunately, those are not available in complementary patterns to the bags. On the flip side, once you no longer need it for the baby, both bags move effortlessly into real life, being suitable for carrying the things a diaperless child needs, or even moving on to work since either can hold a laptop as well as other work things.
Free your imagination, and see what designs you can come up with for either of these of the other styles available at 1154 Lill Studio today!

Beyonce

Beyonce on her way to the Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Boston Celtics game during the 2008 NBA Playoffs at the TD Banknorth Garden May 14, 2008 in Boston, Massachusetts.

Now, I’ll be the first to admit that Beyonce looks extremely well put together here but in general, her style choices are hit and miss. She’s one of those celebrities that always look presentable but doesn’t have a discernible style of her own. In any case, she knocked this look out of the park and the goods news is it won’t cost an arm and three leg to recreate. See below for some tips.

Let Me Introduce Hilary Clinton to Clinton Kelly!

You know the problem well, you can't block it from your mind. The low-long-hemmed unbuttoned jacket swinging away from the widest point of ample thighs/hips... Hilary Clinton and her “pantsuits” (more on that ridiculousness later)...

But it never happened, she never got a lifelong-style makeover from the gurus at What Not to Wear. What a picture, the secret footage, exactly like what I described above, the Clinton puns (there must be puns, I say) and... the bra fitting.

And now it's over. Not only might Hilary's political career be over, but she now has no hope of dressing her womanly body as it should. First legitimate female candidate for president of the United States?? Come on, she's not that female. (Her lack of humanity she increasingly displayed not withstanding, itself.)

What NOT to Wear: Old-Lady Pants Suits

What TO Wear: A nice pin-striped menswear suit. Hem cut at the actual hips (think where a baby rests against a woman's side, on occasion).

Clinton - forget flag pins, try on the stripes!

Man vs. Machine

On May 25, Bill Ellison died. Who is Bill Ellison, you ask? He founded Value Village. I mention this because Value Village, Unique Thrift, and the ilk often show up on this blog, in the form of Blog the Blogger responses and in the comments section (see Monday's post, for example). For many shoppers, all thrift/resale stores are the same: a place to find cool stuff at a reasonable price. For those more discerning shoppers, though, there is an important distinction to be made between Goodwill (and Salvation Army) retail stores and the rest: Goodwill is a 501(c)3, a nonprofit; the others are not.

What does this mean, exactly? It means a couple of things. First, it means that all purchases at a Goodwill of Greater Washington retail store go right back into Goodwill's mission, the training and employment of people with disabilities and disadvantages. Whether that's in the form of salaries for retail employees, funding for training programs, or general operating funds, all of the money earned is for Goodwill of Greater Washington and stays right here in the D.C. community.

Contrast that with Value Village, whose Nonprofit Alliance program pays only a portion of their revenue to a multiplicity of charities, not necessarily located in the community where there stores are located. Or with Unique Thrift, whose charity program pays nonprofits for their used merchandise, then turns around and sells it at a higher cost in their retail stores. Alternatively, if you donate directly to these types of retailers, they donate a set cost to nonprofits (as little as 10 cents, for example) for every pound of merchandise you drop off, meaning that your charitable tax deduction is significantly lower, as well as your overall contribution to charity. While both companies certainly are giving back to selected nonprofits, you never quite know where your money's going when you shop with them.

Even more problematic are so-called charitable donation boxes that are often found in supermarket and gas station parking lots. Dropping off your gently used merchandise in these types of boxes often means that you're supporting a for-profit enterprise.

The box to the left, for example looks completely legitimate and leads you to believe your donations are supporting the prevention of drug abuse, possibly by the police and school system or maybe by D.A.R.E. Reading the fine prints on the sign to the right, however, (see the close-up below) reveals that it's "Not represented as a charitable solicitation, all proceeds go to the unit owner," which means you're not making any charitable donation at all.

And in cases where the boxes might have a .org web address listed on the side, often as little as 1% of the proceeds from your donations are actually going to charitable causes. The rest are sold off in bulk as pure profit for the organization, who has done nothing other than plunk the box down in that location for your convenience.

So what's a responsible resale and thrift store consumer to do? First, know that any purchase at these types of stores is an environmentally responsible one. Buying second-hand not only makes financial sense, but contributes to a huge system of clothing and household goods recycling. Good for you!

Second, be informed. All of these stores and nearly every donation drop box have websites that clearly detail the retailers relationship to nonprofits. And if the retailer is a nonprofit, check out their 990 tax forms to see where the money's coming from and where it's going. Sites like GuideStar provide reports and other information on thousands of nonprofits for free.

Third, don't be afraid to talk to the sales associates and managers at these stores. If you have questions, find out who can give you the answers. That's not to say that every cashier will know the organizational workings of his or her place of employment, but they should be able to direct you to someone who does. Knowledge is power, right?

Right on. Thanks for letting me share this with you today, dear readers. I know we all have our favorite resale and thrift stores and it's great to swap stories and trade tips on this blog. I like that! Just know that any purchase made at a Goodwill Retail Store, on the DC Goodwill eBay store, or on shopgoodwill.org funds Goodwill's mission of training and employment for people with disabilities and disadvantages. And I love that!

Goodwill’s fashion blog provides detailed knowledge and insight on vintage and contemporary clothing and accessories that are valuable to fashion shoppers. The facts and opinions shared present readers with entertaining, exciting and value based information on vintage and contemporary fashion and shopping trends.

Etsy - Crafts come in all sizes

So I am obsessed, and I mean OBSESSED, with this site I found called Etsy.com which is kind of like the craft fair of the internet. Anyone who makes anything - from paintings to scarves to pottery to jewelry can sell it through this site. The best part is, there are so many beautiful, interesting things to see and shop for. I haven't bought anything yet, but it's just because I am afraid once I start, I won't be able to stop. Oh, and did I mention in the clothing area you can sometimes find plus size stuff??? Here are some of the coolest things on Etsy this week:




Left: Cameo Print Panties, up to size 3X, $8.00
Middle: Love Note Necklace, $16.00
Right: Black & White Pleated Bag, $45

Go support fun indie artists!

Memorial Day Weekend

Happy Memorial Day Weekend! It's big deal in Jersey because it's the official start of Summer here! and I'm at the shore for the weekend.
On Friday we went to an antique dealer's pole barn to see a china cupboard. We didn't buy the cupboard, but I nosed around and spotted this cool old wicker desk. I also went through a few bags of textiles and got some slips, smalls and this cool vintage beach towel -
The desk has already been scrubbed, stained and squeezed into the cottage here, with my laptop on top and the sewing machine tucked underneath, waiting for me to use it to sew all those dresses that I promised it I would be sewing. I put the towl over the cedar chest that's in the kitchen. Yeah, there's a cedar chest in the kitchen. There's no storage here, so I need the chest and there's just nowhere else to put it.



Here's the wall in the livingroom of the cottage. Decorated with framed vintage images that I copied, and a hatbox that I hung on the wall with a hat on top.



Two more hatboxes hung with the tops open and my mermaid dolls stuck inside of them. I thought this was a pretty clever idea!




OK, I ended up buying anoher vintage cover for my sofa cushions. I am happy with the final results.



Finally, I looooooove the way my table looks in the kitchen. I still have to paint two of the chairs and the white underneath of the table. Plus I am going to pinstripe the chairs. I keep looking in there and loving it. But now, the carpet in there looks crappy next to the pretty table. The floor will be a project for next year, because I don't have the time now that Summer has started (or the money)

walking on sunshine

The office building outside my window says that it is 4° in Toronto- a bright, glorious heatwave compared to what it's been like these past months, and the first time I've been able to wear open toed shoes without knit stockings. Next week I'll be in NY where it is three times as warm. Time to break out the sundresses. Hurrah for spring!

The YSL Tribute sandals above were spotted leaving a Giambattista Valli show. I'm not crazy about the Tributes, simply because they seemed to be attached to every third body at Paris Fashion Week, but as for Signore Valli, I wouldn't mind having his fierce sandals in my wardrobe this summer...

A little risky in the death department (particularly if you have a ceiling fan, though I acquire more injuries from head-butting doorframes and falling down stairs), but very pretty.

P.S. They look similar to this Gucci design from 2006, don't they?
La Coquette wrote about her experiences walking on these and other killer heels for Chicago Magazine a while back...

what's up pussycat?

Street fashion is going feline.

(from top left, stockholm, munich, mexico)

Pop Quiz #474 pt.2

The answer to the quiz is in two parts, both included here. First I'll give the answer, including what the multiude of marks implied on the second photo and then I have some comments on all the responses.

Part One:

The blue hash marks are related to the digitizing process (CAD). If patterns are made by hand as these were, they're entered into the system via digitizing. I did say this was arcane and I'd only seen it in one plant. As the person who digitized there was not a pattern maker or grader, the hash marks were placed to indicate where along the pattern edges she was to input a point for the computer to read it. On straight edges, you don't need any points entered, just corner to corner. In fact, having no hash marks on a line implied the line was straight; it also saved digitizing time. It's best to not digitize straight lines because the computer can draw them more exactly. Curvy edges need more hash marks and readings to draw the curves well. That's the first part of the answer to part one, but first:

Is it required to place these marks along the edge? I'd say not. If the person digitizing is a grader, pattern maker or someone who is very nit picky, you typically don't need to make markings. Digitizing itself though, is a lower level skill. If the work environment is heavy, why pay a higher wage pattern maker to do it, especially if there's a lot of digitizing to do? A pattern maker would get annoyed having to do something like digitizing all day long. They'd be underutilized. If it's a slower paced environment, sure, the pattern maker and/or grader could do it.

Now, the unnecessary multitude of blue hash marks on the second pattern piece (below) sent a clear message. Everyone who saw those marks bust out laughing.

The results are in . . . .

Lulu asked her blog readers to vote for their favorite vintage websites. And the winners are...

Dorothea's Closet Vintage
Sweet Cherry Vintage
Dandelion Vintage
Vintage-a-Peel
Denisebrain
Daisy Fairbanks
Damn Good Vintage
Vintage Secret
Fast Eddie's Retro Rags
Sydneys Vintage Clothing

'Old School' vintage rocks!
Thank you to everyone who voted for Dandelion Vintage. There are some great sites on the list.

Stylin' 8 year old

My kids just started camp, and a friend was saying that her now 8 year old daughter was mortified to still be carrying a character backpack sending my friend on a futile search for a girlie bag that wasn't too juvenile, but still youthful, and as per her daughter's request different from everyone else's bag. I believe her exact words were, "I have to have my own style mom!"
I ran right home, and e-mailed my friend a link to the Lug Mini Puddle Jumper in bubblegum pink.

Made from nylon, the bag is light enough that an 8 year old is only limited by the weight of her own possessions (though all that High School Musical stuff, hair accessories, pencils, and tchotchkies can get heavy!).
The bag has lots of pockets for all those aforementioned tchotchkies, as well as a cosmetic pocket with it's own mirror, and one of the most brilliant features of all, an insulated self cooler compartment. Perfect for bottles of water, snacks, and lunch. Her mom is considering one in a more grown up grey for the beach, because the cooler compartment is great for temperature hating electronics like a Blackberry, iPod, or iPhone...it's not just for kids.
The only drawback is that it is not a backpack, but the 8 year old liked that it was more grown up.
The Lug Mini Puddle Jumper in pink (or grey, or black, red, turquoise, or green) is $52 at Deva Shop. Get an extra 15% off at checkout for the month of July with the code "July08".

Fight the Powder? Not Anymore.

I don't know why I bought Clinique's Almost Powder Makeup. Well, that's a huge lie. I do know why: I bought it because the salesgirl was wearing a lab coat which made me believe anything she said, and she said that buying this powder would change my life. She also waved a free gift in front of my face and said it could be mine if I pre-ordered the powder (it has been documented here before that I have the willpower of a particularly impulsive Jack Russell Terrier).

And so, despite the fact that I have never bought or liked powder makeup, I became the owner of an allegedly life-changing compact full of it.


This poor impulse purchase languished in my makeup drawer for quite sometime until a couple weeks ago I realized that my usual tinted moisturizer was not doing so well in the summer heat.
The color didn't match my darker skin tone and the liquid formula was routinely transforming into a sweaty sludge.

Panicked at the prospect of choosing between no skin protection in the searing heat and spending another $30 on makeup, my mind flashed to the lonely green compact. It wasn't liquid, and it was already paid for. Perfect.

I brushed some on over my sunscreen and while it didn't save the polar bears, it kind of did change my life: it was light and flattering and evened my skin tone beautifully. It didn't turn into sweaty sludge on contact. It didn't clog my pores. It didn't make me look like Sean Patrick Flanery in Powder, which was a huge plus. (In other news, I just realized that Sean Patrick Flanery's initials are SPF--coincidence? no. way.)

Perhaps it's only so great because it's Almost Powder Makeup rather than Powder Makeup, but whatever the reason, I've been wearing it almost every day (heh, heh, see what I did there?). I'm pretty sure I'll go back to tinted moisturizer in the winter (the idea of scraping powder onto my ashen January skin is enough to give me nightmares), but for now, I'm quite happy with my excellent, impulse-purchased complexion.

Vanity sizing: generational edition pt.2

Apparently, our attempt to inflate the egos of the public has reached new lows; we're after babies now. My first generational edition was about geriatrics and whether pre WW2 women in Japan would describe today's clothing sizes as "vanity sizing". Today's generational edition is about infant's wear. This was the quote I found that brought this idea to mind:

Max now weighs 14.5 pounds. And yet, due to baby vanity sizing, he is wearing NB in the picture I took this morning of him in a white long sleeve onesie, brown pants, and a blue cabled sweater. All are labeled newborn. And he is 12 weeks and 2 days old.

Sizing to the mean (what "vanity sizing" really is) is an interesting question in infant's apparel. In many respects, the expression is the exact opposite of adults. Specifically, as wealthy people tend to be thinner than average, expensive designer fashion runs truer to "size" (smaller). However, it's the opposite with infant's apparel. In infant sizes, it's babies born to wealthier parents who are larger. In other words, while the median size for lower income adults is larger (than that of wealthy people), the corresponding sizes for lower income infants are smaller as baby size is an expression of general health.

LiLo has Peter Pan Legs & Man Feet

Scrolldown!

..

..

These pants go way far too beyond skinny jeans. I barely recognize them as being denim (don't they kind of resemble a blue heather fleece?) And then we get to those sneakers. Lindsay looks like her feet belong on a teenaged boy. That ensemble is an insult to her fantastic patchwork handbag.

By the way, I was out of the fashion game for a while, and now cannot find this bag anywhere after a day's research - can you name it or the designer?

Nancy Goodenough Jewelry

Glass Artist and Jewelry Designer

Nancy Goodenough's trademark Dichroic Glass FireStones combine luminous color and otherworldly texture. The artist marries the ancient glass-forming technique of pate de verre with an innovative process that she developed. Nancy's glass has been exhibited in juried shows and craft galleries worldwide. She has also been featured in leading craft, bead, and lapidary publications, and in the definitive Collectible Beads by Dr. Robert Liu.



Handcrafted Glass and Sterling Silver Jewelry:



Dichroic Glass Pendants

Nancy integrates her lovely glass creations into a distinctive line of jewelry - incorporating precious metals, and using a variety of metalsmithing techniques such as fusing, fold forming, hollow forming, and surface treatments.

$40



Nancy is best known for creating hypnotic, luminous glass, where reflective colors play against other textures. She produces these magical effects by integrating ancient glass-forming methods, space-age dichroic glass, and her unique kiln-casting process. Using lapidary equipment, Nancy bevels and shapes the glass, giving it added depth, color, and an organic surface. The result is much more complex than standard dichroic material.





Yoyo-Z Dichroic Earrings

Brilliant fuchsia pink with cobalt blue highlights

Vibrant earrings with 1/2" dichroic glass circles

Handcrafted zigzags of sterling silver wire

Resin beads and Swarovski crystals

$45



Says Nancy, "My technology background leads me to experiment with ways to marry metal and glass. I try to find a balance between my artistic side and three decades in technology and business. Being of Bohemian decent may well have had an influence on my intense interest in glass."





Dichroic Glass & Sterling Silver Pendant

Dichroic glass Firestone pendant with cast sterling silver spiral finding.

$45



Systems engineer and world traveler, high school teacher and mathematician - these aren't the typical credentials of a glass artist. But with Nancy Goodenough, both life and art reflect the unexpected. Nancy resigned from IBM in 1999, and now lives with her husband among the redwoods on the Russian River in Northern California, where she also creates her jewelry.

See full article.





Related Entries:

Jewelry Career Resources - 08 August 2006

Native American Inlay Jewelry - 14 January 2008

Caroline Ballou Jewelry - 26 May 2008

Stephen LeBlanc Art Jewelry - 27 May 2008

Contents of this feed are a property of Creative Weblogging Limited and are protected by copyright laws. Violations will be prosecuted. Please email us if you'd like to use this feed for non-commercial activities at feeds - at - creative-weblogging.com.

An Imagined Conversation Between Myself and This Shopbop Model

Me: So, how are things?

Shopbop Model: Good, good. Things are good.

Me: How's the family? The family good?

Shopbop Model: They're fine, yeah, they're doing well.

Me: Good. And work? How's that going for you?

Shopbop Model: It's really great. This shopbop gig has got me some other offers and I think it's gonna be a really good year for me.

Me: That's fantastic! How about your love life?

Shopbop Model: Umm...Actually it's not so good. It's really bad, to be honest. It's kinda hard for me to talk about, but, well, I walked in on my boyfriend having sex with my mo--

Me: YOU'RE WEARING A TOWEL.

Shopbop Model: What?

Me: WITH HEELS.

Shopbop Model: Wait, this? No, no, this is a dress.

Me: Yeah, that's a towel.

Shopbop Model: But it costs $500!

Me: Yeah, that's a really overpriced towel.

Shopbop Model: But it has sequins!

Me: I bought a sequined towel once. From Hilo Hattie. It said "MAUI" on it in silver sequins. And it was a towel.

Shopbop Model: Really? Why would you buy a sequined towel?

Me: I don't know. It hurt really bad so I gave it away.

Shopbop Model: Good call.

AE Three Button Blazer

We love the clean look of this three button blazer. Pair it with a striped tank and a white skirt for a crisp, nautical look.

$59.50 ; at American Eagle.

Wear You Colored Jeans With...

Yellow Jacket: Cropped Jacket by Bi La Li, $675, www.net-a-porter.com; Top: Metallic Filigree Flutter, $17.80, www.forever21.com; Bracelet: Satin Wrapped Bangles Set of 3, $14.99, www.urbanoutfitters.com; Graphic Tee: Metallic Filigree Flutter, $17.80, www.forever21.com; Clutch: Danni Pomegranate Clutch, $36, www.amiciaccessories.com; Belt: Priscilla Patent Belt, $7.80, www.forever21.com; Earrings: Graffiti Earrings, $10, www.oohboutique.com; Pumps: Orizaba, $79.98, www.aldoshoes.com

Blog the Blogger: The President Wears Prada

Not really. I mean, not to my knowledge, he does. But it makes for a great blog name. The President Wears Prada is "to stripping away your khakis and striped pant suits (literally and figuratively) to reveal DC's true street style." The DCGF learned of this blog when TPWP sent me pics of this boy's blazer from Goodwill (right) worn in a smashingly chic outfit. Gotta love that.

And she has a penchant for picking out the odd and even ugly in fashion and somehow figuring out a way for it to make sense in real life. That's a true talent. Forthwith, her responses to the DCGF's soon-to-be Famous Five (plus One) questions...

1. What is the first article of clothing you remember that you loved to wear? A purple velvet dress with ruffled cap sleeves and a little white apron that was sewn and hand painted by my aunt. She's the sweetest thing in the world, and still tailors a very large percentage of my wardrobe (like the XXL pink polka-dot dress from Goodwill that she just turned into a mini dress today :) )

2. Where is your favorite place - besides Goodwill, of course! - to shop for a fashion bargain in the DC area? The flea market at Eastern Market, specially during really cold winter months really early in the morning when no reasonable person except for me wants to be there.

3. Where is your favorite place to shop for a fashion bargain outside of DC? Beacon's Closet, in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. I could spend an entire day in there, I probably already have...

4. Who is your current favorite designer? Phillip Lim for his impeccable details.

5. If you could own any single item from fashion past or present - money is no object! - what would it be? A 1960s YSL "Smoking" suit (like the one in Helmut Newton's 1975 photo of Yves St. Laurent's "Le Smoking", left), because it represents the birth of androgyny and because I'm in love with Yves.

Bonus Question: How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop? Well... I am a scientist in my other life, so I have to give you an equation. The diameter of an average Tootsie Pop lets say is 3cm so the volume is 23cm^3 and the volume of the tootsie center is 2cm^3, so that's 21cm^3 of just candy. I would say that a layer of candy is 1/4 a millimeter and that you can lick a layer off with 3 licks, so 21cm^3 / ((0.025cm^3) * 3) = 280 licks to the center :)

Wow. A plausibly realistic answer to the bonus question. I'm not sure what to say, other than that I'm totally impressed, TPWP! A fashionista and a scientist. Perhaps you can explain, then, the chemical reaction that occurs in my brain every time I see a great pair of shoes on sale that I just can't resist buying? It's not me, it's science.




Any purchase made at a Goodwill Retail Store or on eBay funds Goodwill's mission of training and employment programs for people with disadvantages or disabilities.

Goodwill’s fashion blog provides detailed knowledge and insight on vintage and contemporary clothing and accessories that are valuable to fashion shoppers. The facts and opinions shared present readers with entertaining, exciting and value based information on vintage and contemporary fashion and shopping trends.

The Penny-Pinchers Toolkit: 100 Money Saving Tips for Online Shoppers

Online shopping is the way to go for consumer looking for convenience and efficiency. What could be easier than sitting in your own living room, picking out a new TV from the comfort of your recliner? But aside from this convenience, online shoppers get a benefit that brick-and-mortar shoppers don't – great deals and discounts. Shopping online allows for simple and quick price comparisons between different merchants on virtually any product and retailers often offer promotions to their online customers that aren't available in the store. Here are some great resources that will help you save money and gas.

Price Comparison Websites

Websites that allow you to compare prices on multiple items are helpful for a variety of reasons. First, they allow you to get a good sense of the product's price range in just a few seconds. You'll know the higher end of the price range, the lower end, and where to get the best deal. These sites also help you determine if you can save money by ordering the product online or if you'd be better off driving to a local store. Always do your research before you buy.

1. BizRate.com: BizRate is a great place to get price comparisons on a number of different products. Whether you are looking for a television set, men's clothing or even just a pair of sunglasses, Biz Rate has the 411 you need to get a great deal. They claim they compare prices for items sold by “anyone, anywhere.”


2. PriceGrabber.com: Like BizRate, PriceGrabber compares a plethora of household items, appliances, and electronics. You can even check out the price differentials on music instruments. Call them the superstore of the internet, their “Bottom Line Calculations” approach allows consumers to compare the final total from each site – including shipping and handling.


3. Shopzilla.com: The parent company of BizRate.com, Shopzilla's most attractive feature is it's simple, modern design and easy searchability. The home page features lots of shortcuts to find the best deals of the moment. Shoppers also post reviews about each deal, so you know which vendor boast the most customer satisfaction.


4. DealTime.com: Like its competitors, DealTime offers consumers price comparisons on just about any product you can imagine. It's database includes information from thousands of online and big box merchants and customer reviews. The site even calculates the tax and shipping costs of ordering from a specific vendor.


5. Shopping.com: The parent company of DealTime, Shopping.com is owned by eBay and conducts international searches of different product comparisons. Like DealTime, its site is a bit barebones, but very easy to navigate. Shopping.com boasts the world's largest product catalog and is consistently in the top 10 Internet destinations globally.


6. Kaboodle.com: The product comparison site for the more trendy and modern-minded shopper, Kaboodle goes beyond big box store items and allows users to search for products even on sites like Etsy, a merchant system for individual designers. Kaboodle also incorporates a good amount of social networking into its interface design, allowing shoppers to chat with friends and fellow shoppers, post reviews, and create profiles. Find the hippest, cheapest products on this site.


7. Jellyfish.com: Owned by Microsoft, Jellyfish.com offers a truly innovative approach to Internet shopping by allowing shoppers to set the prices of products through an interactive system. Its signature approach is called “Smack Shopping,” named, appropriately, after a group of jellyfish. Smack Shopping is an online auction show run through the web site that allows shoppers to bid on products within a certain time frame. Auctioneers never disclose how many products are up for auction, and the prices drop second by second. It's a new, fun way to set about finding a discount.


8. Roboshopper: If you have ever used SideStep.com to purchase a plane ticket, then you will be familiar with the model employed by Roboshopper. Instead of searching for deals through standard discount sites, Roboshopper searches for deals by searching other price comparison sites and then redirects you to the vendor wit the best prices. It's a valuable service that will save you a lot of leg work and maximize your efficiency.


9. Froogle: Froogle is what Google termed its own price comparison service. It's a Beta system that's as simple and thorough as Google itself. Type in what you're looking for and Froogle will pull up a variety of brands, giving a price range and number of stores or online locations the product is available from.


10. NexTag: One of the more popular price comparison sites, NexTag offers shoppers the ability to not only compare prices for a new blender, but also prices for plane tickets, travel packages, financial services, and real estate. It has consistently been named one of the world's fastest growing companies by several publications, including Inc., 500, and it also has sister sites in the UK, Germany, and France. NexTag's comprehensive service boasts 17 million users each month.


11. Yahoo! Shopping: Most of the major search engines offer price comparison services, but one of the most popular is Yahoo! Shopping, mostly for it's comprehensive approach. Not only can you easily search for and find discounted products, but Yahoo! has teamed up with distributors so it's able to offer shoppers coupons and extra discounts on its site. You can choose to shop by brand, by store, or simply by what's available in the coupon center.


12. mySimon.com: Now owned by CNET, mySimon.com got off to a big start when it launched several years ago. It's one of the foremost product comparison sites out there mainly because it caters to the serious discount shopper with a number of features, like a periodic newsletter, column describing the most popular items purchased, RSS feed that consistently updates subscribers about the latest deals. The site also offers links to consumer reports right off its home page.


13. Pricesbolo.com: This fast-working price comparison site is based in India and is one of the fastest growing price comparison services in that country. One of Pricesbolo's best features is that it serves the consumer by working more closely with the sellers. Sellers and merchants who agree to drop their prices even further will benefit from having Pricesbolo drive more traffic to their businesses. It also rates the merchants in your area so you know which are the most reliable.


14. PriceRunner: PriceRunner was founded in 1999 and now has sites in several languages and countries. Retailers can pay the site to include them on product searches, but PriceRunner also includes deals from non-paying merchants. You'll be able to tell them apart by whether or not the merchant's logo is included in the advertisement. While there's nothing fancy about PriceRunner, it's a reliable and efficient service.


15. Become.com: A somewhat strange name for a price comparison website, but nevertheless it is a great, user-friendly site. Become.com offers easy searching for shoppers and lets them zoom into the kind of information they want to hear about each product. For example, if you are looking for a new stereo, you'll be able to compare competitive prices, as well as click on user reviews, customer forums, or published consumer reports. You can also create a profile through the site that will allow you to interact with other users. Become.com also has a philanthropic component, allowing you to donate to a featured nonprofit from its homepage.


16. AOL: Similar to Froogle, AOL's shopping site turns simple searches into a wealth of information. Type in the product and it will turn up a host of results with price ranges from multiple vendors. You can also access great deals through AOL's coupon portal, keep up with the newest products, and read articles posted on the shopping blog.


17. MSN: Again, this is another service available from a popular search engine provider. MSN Shopping allows for price comparisons on over 33 million products in its database. You can also get tips on how to purchase certain items from MSN's shopping gurus, access coupons, and read about the latest deals. If you're a person who has trouble making a decision, this site's helpful advice tools will be an attractive option for you.


18. DealOz.com: Are you a movie buff? Are your DVD spending habits getting a little out of control? Then this is the site for you. DealOz.com compares prices on any and all DVDs available. So what if the list price is $30; DealOz will find it for half that, at least.


19. Reseller Ratings: This site is interactive for both shoppers and merchants, and aside from a running blog advertising the latest deals on its homepage, Reseller Ratings lets users rate both products and merchants. Owners of the site claim it's most attractive feature is reviews by “real people.” Subscribe to the site's RSS feed to stay on top of the latest and greatest deals available minute by minute.


20. Pricewatch: Established in 1995, this somewhat minimalist site lets computer shoppers compare and contrast prices on technologies from multiple vendors. The site also offers users up-to-date technology news on hardware, software and games.

Coupon Code Sites

Most of us probably received our first lesson in discount shopping techniques from our dear, old coupon-clipping grandmothers and mothers. But in the age of eco-friendly behavior, it's time to shun the tree-destroying Sunday circulars for more accessible and efficient vouchers. There's hundred of websites out there devoted to the world of coupons — check out these helpful sites that allow you to apply deals to products found online.

21. RetailMeNot.com: RetailMeNot is a cute and highly useful coupon code site that features up-to-the-minute deals from all of the major retailers out there. Save 25 percent on a book from Borders or 30 percent off your purchase from Ann Taylor. Expiration dates are prominently displayed, and the site also puts out a weekly newsletter about the latest deals.


22. Fat Wallet: One of the more popular and user-friendly coupon sites, Fat Wallet offers tons of discounts and coupons and employs the “cash back” incentives so popular among many coupon sites these days. Cash back incentives work like this: purchase a product with a site's coupons and you'll get cash back on your purchase. That's because some coupon websites get commissions from retailers for driving traffic to their site.


23. CouponCabin.com: Coupon Cabin is a well-organized site that let's you easily find the most popular coupons available or search for deals with specific retailers. Coupons are categorized by expiration date and the site even has a section devoted entirely to coupons on the verge of expiring, so you won't ever miss a deal.


24. CouponCode.com: Coupon Code is another highly popular and highly useful coupon site, which has all the features any shopper would need to keep track of the best coupon deals available. Not only can you create an account where you can save coupons you want to use in the future, but the site also allows shoppers to compare prices and kill two birds with one stone.


25. CouponCodes4u.com: This site is for the serious shopper who is looking for daily deals. Its system is based on its user population – resourceful shoppers who collect rebate codes and coupons and email the codes into the folks who run the site. Register with this site and you'll get alerted each time a new deal pops up.


26. CouponHeaven.com: Another useful site that combines all of its deals into a simple and easy-to-use interface that doesn't overwhelm shoppers with flashing ads and messages. While the site does offer a “Featured Deals” section on its homepage, it really puts most of the onus on the user to know what they're looking for and conduct a search, either by merchant, category, or brand name.


27. CouponChief.com: With Coupon Chief, you will never have to worry that your coupons are out of date. It is updated daily and organized into a user-friendly format. At the very top, shoppers will find featured deals for the very day they're shopping and then right below the most recently-added coupons are listed, as well as all of the coupons expiring that day.


28. CouponShack.com: A well-designed and easy to use site, CouponShack has a frequently updated blog, staff recommended deals, and discounts that apply to a variety of products. Aside from products found in big box stores, look to this site for grocery coupons, travel deals, and discounts on financial services. Also be sure to check out their Deal of the Day.


29. CouponCactus.com: Aside from offering over 2,000 coupons daily, CouponCactus has even more incentives for shoppers. By registering with the site and helping to spread the word about the discounts offered, you can earn a commission. Every time someone uses a coupon from your referral, you'll get a percentage of the sale.


30. CurrentCodes.com: CurrentCodes.com knows that shoppers don't want to waste their time searching coupon sites only to find that all of the deals listed have already expired. Their full-time staff spends all day every day updating their information and making sure you have the most relevant and timely coupons at your fingertips. The site isn't flashy, but it's easy to use and definitely useful.


31. CouponAlbum.com: True to its name, Coupon Album offers coupons on everything imaginable, from actual products to travel to coupons that just cover shipping costs. One of the great features of its site is that listed with each coupon is an accompanying list of current sales offered by retail outlets that don't require coupons. The site also maintains several user forums, though none are very heavily utilized.

Blogs

Shopping is a popular topic, not just for adolescent girls, but anyone with a credit card and a moderate amount of disposable income. Sure comparison sites and coupon codes are great, but sometimes you really need a personal voice to help you find what you're looking for and locate the best price. Which is why these blogs about discount shopping are great resources to check in on periodically for the latest news from folks who make knowing about shopping their bread and butter.

32. The Budget Fashionista: This blogger's mantra is “Be Fabulous for Less,” and its thorough content and plethora of deals is a God send for any girl who wants to stay in style without blowing their budget. This blog is so successful, in fact, its founders even wrote their own book about how to shop on a dime. Content includes not only burgeoning fashion lines, but readers get access to coupons and up-to-the-minute information on all the latest sales. The blog also maintains an active forum so readers can communicate with each other about other deals they've found.


33. Gretchen's Closet: This fun blog is heavily headline driven with deals galore. Not only does this blog keep you up to date on all the fashion trends – even the ones you can't afford – it has more coupons than one shopper could hope to find in a single spot. There's also a frequently-updated section about all the latest and greatest sales available online.


34. Cheap Laptops: This U.K.-based blog is an excellent resource for those of you in the market for a cheap laptop computer. The laptop-per-day approach means there's lots of information to be found, even if you will have to do a little price conversions to figure out prices in American dollars. Search by brand or sign up for periodic updates.


35. Ebates: Ebates is an “online mall” that profits from commissions whenever its readers click and buy from one of their links. Therefore, the maintainers of this blog have a real incentive to keep shoppers informed of the best savings. To get more shoppers to participate in shopping through Ebates, the bloggers even offer shoppers a “cash back” incentive – forking over a percentage of their commission to the folks who helped them earn it!


36. Infomercials TV: You won't find any coupons on this blog, but you will find a great round-up of all those discount, too-good-to-be-true products you've probably seen on TV infomercials. Infomercials often offer viewers excellent discounted rates for buying over the phone, but how do you know the products work? This blog allows for readers to post comments and disclose their own research, helping you make a more educated decision.


37. The Bargainist: The ultimate discount shopper's guide, The Bargainist leaves no stone unturned in its quest for the cheapest products on earth. Heck, one entry even notified readers about a Krispy Kreme promotion for a single free donut. Chock-full of coupons, this blog is updated so frequently it will make your head spin. Recently, bloggers posted 10 entries before the clock even struck Noon.


38. Save, Save, Save: A very purple blog maintained by a U.K.-based woman who decided to start a blog after realizing that her own online shopping experiences were often times pretty humorous. Admittedly, this blog seems to have strayed from its initial purpose, as most entries fall in the category of random diatribes and non-shopping related topics. However, it's still worth a look, since the blogger has compiled a pretty extensive list of other blogs – some of which deal with discount shopping.


39. Deals, Coupons & Bargain Guides: Not a very catchy name, but this blog will surely catch the eye of bargain shoppers in the market for some cheap electronics and computer equipment. Updated several times each day, this blogger scours the Internet for the best technology deals and then brings them to his readers free of charge.


40. Ransacker: Ransacker is a blog run out of the U.K. that is dedicated solely to price comparisons on various different running shoes. This blog is one that should be bookmarked by athletes or athletic-shoe aficionados. Again, you'll have to break out your exchange-rate calculator, but if you're looking for cheap shoes that can be ordered online this blog is a great, current resource.


41. Coupon Codes Mall: A blog that doubles as a coupon code site, bloggers post multiple entries a day about the latest coupon codes and go one step further to educate readers about the product and the deal. It also offers links to tons of other coupon sites and allows readers to join a mailing list, as well as read product reviews.


42. Shop with a Vengeance: With the exception of uber-rich celebs like Madonna and Paris Hilton, most of us don't know what it's like to march into a store and throw every item we encounter into a basket. Rather than shopping with a vengeance, we shop with a calculated timidity. That's why this blog is so liberating – find great deals and fill your virtual cart without worrying about going into debt. Check out, specifically, the “Bargain Finds” section.


43. Buy Better and Have a Better Life: It's a mouthful of a title, and it's not the most straightforward of all discount shopping blogs. But this blogger does manage to sneak in a fair helping of information about product deals and current sales. The blog is kept current, and in addition to talking about ways to save when shopping this blogger conducts personal product reviews and also writes about ways to live better holistically.


44. eDaily Shop: A busy blog that focuses on deals to be found when purchasing electronics, DVDs, computers, and other technologically-advanced items. The fact that the site is powered by a Google search engine is a good thing, since there is so much information to take in. Each product post comes with a review, and readers can also quickly search the sites archives for past reviews.


45. Frugal Fanny: Not so much a discount finder as a blog dedicated to helping discount shoppers live within their tiny budgets. This blogger gives readers useful tips for how to live well on a budget and take advantage of the discounts that are widely available. It's not updated daily, though, so think of it more like light reading to peruse in between your purchases.


46. Giveaway of the Day: This blog, updated daily, is a great find for computer geeks and software developers looking for the latest technology deals. Each day, the bloggers give away a new program or other application. The blog often notifies readers of giveaways in advance, so you can be sure to check the site on the day. Also, the blog features a pretty active forum.


47. Everybody Loves Coupons: This is a quirky blog maintained by the folks over at UltimateCoupons.com, which features a daily blog on topics ranging from Indiana Jones to Violence vs. Nudity. What's the connection to online shopping, you ask? Each blog entry is followed by a few great promotional coupons. The blogger also maintains a current list of freebie items up for grabs. Find deals and be entertained at the same time.


48. Real Looks for Real Women: Oprah would love this blog. It offers great fashion tips for all women, as well as links and reviews to the latest fashions from affordable designers. Staying in style this season doesn't mean sacrificing your savings anymore.

Articles

Online discount shopping has become such a phenomenon that it's even newsworthy. Every major newspaper and magazine has covered the topic at one time or another, studying its growth in popularity. These are stories that retailers pay attention to, since online sales have become such a large percentage of their overall profit. Here's a round-up of some great articles that will help you educate yourself more thoroughly on the topic.

49. Benefits and Advantages of Shopping Online: A helpful article written by the folks at Coupon Codes Mall. This article discusses the flexibility and the ease that online shopping offers shoppers in comparison to retail outlets. Short and sweet, this article make a good case for utilizing your computer more in your quest for earthly goods.


50. Shopping & Selling Online: Author Richard Seltzer covers everything anyone would need to know about both buying and selling items online in this 10-chapter article. Get a great overview of the benefits of using the internet for your shopping needs, while also learning how to use search engines to find the best sites. Want to make a buck or two while you're at it? Consult Seltzer's chapters on posting your own goods for sale.


51. 8 Top Sites for Online Shopping Deals: An article by MSN Money writer Jennifer Mulrean, which chronicles the best sites for finding product deals. These sites range from general online retailers to sites that offer shopper discounts and coupons.


52. New York Times: The Times published an article last year, which pointed to the decline in online sales in some markets. But the decline was also thought to be the result of the fact that with Internet sales reaching over $116 billion in 2007, it was difficult for retailers to keep up with the previous growth trends in online revenue. Some retailers, like Dell, who were strictly into online sales have even started hocking their wares in brick-and-mortar establishments.


53. Safety Tips: When shopping online, the consumer is frequently entering highly private information. Aside from credit card numbers, there is also the home address and phone number. This quick article discusses some general tips to keep in mind so your identity and finances will stay secure.


54. Consumers Buy Into Online Shopping: A good article that precedes the NYT's article about the slowing down of Internet shopping. This article, written in 2005, chronicles the boom of online shopping and it's growth during the first few years of the decade.


55. Shopbot Article: An informative summary found on MoneySavingExpert.com, which defines shopbots and rates the best ones. A shopbot can be defined as any price comparison website that allows consumers to compare and contrast before making a choice, such as PriceGrabber. The article also has useful information on cash-back sites, or those which return a commission to the shopper for buying through their promotions.


56. 10 Reasons Not to Shop Online: As a comparative shopper, you should always be in the market for the contrarian point of view. This article about why people shouldn't shop online plays the perfect devil's advocate. Most arguments are unconvincing, though it's hard to argue that privacy issues cease to be a big concern when exchanging cash for goods in person.


57. Marketing Myth: A great Business Week article that seeks to dispel the myth surrounding “Cyber Monday.” That's the Monday after Thanksgiving that is said to be the biggest online shopping day of the year. Business Week reporters find that it only ranks 12th.


58. Translating Digital Body Language: An interesting article from The Washington Post that examines the psychology of shopping online and how the lack of a face-to-face sales pitch can lead shoppers to abandon their items before purchasing them. New companies are sprouting up that help online retailers tailor pitches and deals to an individual shopper's interests to help increase the percentage of sales that actually go through.


59. Online Shopping Doesn't Always Deliver: An article from the Wall Street Journal in which a columnist laments the shipping costs and other hassles involved in online shopping. This is an author with the opinion that shopping online doesn't really save time after all.


60. Online Shopping with Froogle: Many Internet users swear by Google and its many, many applications. If you are one of those people, than this is the article for you. It's a straightforward look at the ins, outs and benefits of Google's shopping portal, Froogle.


61. Flaws of Online Shopping Cart Design: An especially informative, if not overly academic, article from the Usability News, which discusses the main flaws of online shopping cart designs. Average shoppers should probably skip this one, unless you're purposely looking to kill some time. But online retailers and those of you looking to start your own e-commerce business may find it helpful.


62. Allowing In-Store Returns: A short article that makes a solid point. Recently, a study by Ispos MORI found that more people would shop online if the retailer would allow items purchased electronically to be returned in local stores. Seems like a no-brainer, especially for retailers looking to keep their online sales up.


63. Safe Online Holiday Shopping: PC World put out this helpful article in 2006. The holidays are, obviously, the biggest time for online shopping, which means they're also the biggest time for scammers and hackers who want to get their criminal hands on your credit card information. Check out these tips for safe Internet shopping.


64. Phone Shopping: This CNN article covers a recent study released by Cisco, Inc., which identifies the mobile phone as being the next big channel for commerce. With more and more smart phones coming onto the market, shoppers can access the Internet anytime, anywhere. Shopping can now be done from the subway, in class, or surreptitiously at work.


65. Peak Online Shopping Hours: eMarketer.com is a great website with lots of informative white papers and articles about e-commerce. This one helps dispel the myth that online shoppers are all insomniac computer addicts who spend the dark hours of the night running up their credit card bills. Turns out, peak shopping hours occur during the workday.


66. Security: “Is Online Shopping Ever Secure?” That's the title of this article, which begs to ask the same question. Reporters conclude, actually, that with all of the hacking technologies available these days it is hard to ever truly know if a transaction is completely secure, no matter what the seller promises.


67. Pricing Alerts: Want to know just how you are getting access to so many fantastic deals through so many fantastic deal-delivering websites? Here's an informative summary of how online coupons come to be and how they are processed on the retailer's end.


68. Shopping with Kinset: With the launch and popularity of virtual online worlds like Second Life, web developers are entering a whole new world of technology. Take for example Kinset, a 3D virtual environment that recreates a store's physical interior for online shoppers. This blogger questions if it will be the new wave of online shopping.


69. Shipping Fees as Deterrant: A recent study commissioned by PayPal found that most shoppers abandon their orders during the last phase of the checkout process because of the high shipping fees. This helpful article details other findings in the study, which looked specifically at why online shoppers back out of their orders before finalizing the sale.

Forums

It's great to get all of this information about online shopping from blogs, websites, and the media, but what if you have actual questions you'd like to ask? Shopping forums are abundant online and allow shoppers to have interactive conversations with other buyers and sellers, so you can ask questions and get multiple opinions and answers within a matter of seconds. Check out these shopping forums and start making some like-minded friends.

70. Epinions: Epinions is one of the foremost consumer review sites on the web. Owned by Shopping.com, Epinions has thousands of members who post product reviews and assist one another in the comparative shopping process. It's a great, thorough, and highly-usable forum for discount online shoppers.


71. Smarter.com: It's a forum, it's a blog, it's a price comparison website all rolled into one! While many websites offer consumers all three of these features, Smarter.com is one of the more fun sites to peruse. You can also sell your items online – becoming a merchant is easy with this user-friendly interface.


72. Dealighted: Find coupons and customer forums on the best deals all in one spot on this handy site. The forums section boasts 4,500 members, all of which are extremely active. Compare “Hot Deals”, find “Free Stuff” or just chat with fellow shoppers.


73. Slick Deals: Slick Deals is a huge online forum with minute-by-minute postings from its hundreds of members. Members are constantly posting online coupons, information about rebates or just simply chatting about the latest videogames or lending each other technical assistance.


74. Deal of Day: Not the most attractive site out there, but Deal of Day is certainly a useful one. With some forum categories boasting over 100,000 posts, this site is thick with information for the discount shopper. It's a great way to make friends, too. Check out the General Discussion section and chat religion with the guy you met in Rebates.


75. My Coupons: My Coupons is – you guessed it! – both a coupon code site and a shopper's forum. Users can post pictures of themselves and entries about their latest saves. A great resource for the most frugal of shoppers.


76. Deal Hunting: A comprehensive discount site with coupons, blogs and a highly popular forum. Don't expect to get too off topic here, though. Most discussion boards are dedicated solely to shopping.


77. Travel Notes: When searching for travel deals, especially, you'll want to learn about others' experiences when they traveled to your desired destination. Travel Notes lets wanderlusts compare notes about traveling on the cheap with an active forum.


78. Tech Bargains: Technology is expensive – especially computers and other savvy gadgets. That's why the forum at TechBargains.com is so great for both the experienced and the novice alike. Users post about tech products, but they also post about savings on everyday stuff, like groceries.


79. Big Boards: Big Boards is a simple bulletin-board site that offers forums in multiple categories. The shopping forum has several different categories and links even to forums on other coupon and price comparison websites. It's a diverse community of chatters, and definitely worth a browse.


80. eShop Forums: A terrific message board and forum dedicated to those of you who actually run your own ecommerce site or are planning to start one. Here you'll find great conversations and tips on the best software packages to support your business, as well as the best shopping cart providers to use. They even let you shamelessly plug your business on one thread.


81. Motortrend: While the Motortrend forum deals specifically with, you guessed it, cars and trucks, there are some chats that deviate from that tradition. Regardless, vehicle shoppers will find all the information they need to make an informed decision on just about every make and model out there. Even find out how to negotiate for the best deals.


82. Hub Pages: Hub Pages is an online community where people can create profiles and join forums dealing with just about any topic. Thankfully, there's one dedicated solely to discount shopping. It's free to join and publish your own thoughts, but even if you don't want an account, you're able to read what others have already posted.

Discount Shopping Sites

Discount shopping sites are plentiful on the Internet. Just think of all the discount stores out there that you can physically drive to in your vehicle. Most all of them have online components, and several of those retailers offer extra incentives to online customers that aren't available to people in their brick-and-mortar shops. But there are also several discount shopping sites that can be considered “virtual stores” since they don't have a retail outlet. Here are some of the most popular discount shopping sites consumers flock to on the web.

83. Amazon: When Amazon first got it's start on the web in 1995 it was in a class of its own. Though its main attraction was, at first, its extensive supply of discount books, Amazon soon expanded its focus to include all sorts of consumer products, like electronics, DVDs, and home appliances. Today it is one of the web's most booming discount shopping sites, and it's even formed some impressive alliances with other discount retailers.


84. Overstock: Like Amazon, Overstock.com has a big warehouse somewhere where few consumers have actually gone. Its business model is built on acquiring overstocked items from other retailers at a heavily discounted price and then marking it up a bit for the average consumer. While the business is best known for its impressive furniture and jewelry offerings, it, like Amazon, has also expanded into other area, like electronics and clothing.


85. eBags.com: Looking for cheap luggage? Look no further than eBags.com, which claims to be the world's largest online discount bag retailer. They carry over 500 brands and offer a plethora of online discounts.


86. Smart Bargains: These guys have deemed themselves “Your personal bargain hunter” for all of the deals they find. Set up as an online marketplace, the site gets its competitive prices much like Overstock does – by purchasing canceled orders, overstocks, and closeouts from big manufacturers at rates that can't be beat. They then turn around and pass those discounts off to shoppers.


87. Pricemad: Pricemad is an online discount site that frankly hasn't received the best reviews in the customer service department. Do your research before placing any big ticket items with them, but their site can be helpful from a comparison standpoint. Pricemad focuses largely on electronics and computers.


88. Netmarket: Netmarket offers its shoppers discounts on items from cameras to swimming pools precisely because it doesn't stock anything. It simply forwards your order onto one of its subsidiary vendors and the item is shipped from there. It's inventory is somewhat limited, however, to household items and outdoor appliances.


89. Best Buy: If you live in the suburbs of a major city, chances are you have a Best Buy on nearly every street corner. But most people don't know that Best Buy is also one of the top 10 websites for e-commerce traffic. Perhaps it's because extra deals are available to shoppers online through the store's web-based outlet center.


90. Label Spree: Save up to 75 percent on designer clothing labels by shopping through Label Spree. Shop by label or by season on this site and get the latest fashions for a fraction of what you would pay in the store. From Betsey Johnson to Antik Denim, Label Spree lowers prices on items continuously throughout the day and is able to offer the prices it does because it sells only out-of-production garments. You can also sign up to receive alerts when the price on the item you want starts dropping.


91. Bluefly: Like Label Spree, Bluefly offers heavy discounts on designer clothing. The company formed in 1998 and sells the latest discounted designer items at about 40 percent off the retail price. One of the best features? Customers can chat live online with personal shoppers for advice on the latest looks.


92. Fashion Bliss: Similar to Bluefly and Label Spree, fashionistas with small checking accounts can get the same look Julia Roberts sports for a fraction of the price. It's not clear how Fashion Bliss secures the discounts they do, but they do say this about their stock: “Our fabulous items come from a variety of sources and we carry only the highest quality products. Each and every piece is selectively hand picked by our fabulous team of buyers while traveling around the continent and the globe in search of the latest and greatest fashions to share with YOU.”


93. Target: Everyone knows about the wondrous styles and prices available at Target. And while it's probably easy for most of us to get in our cars and drive to the closest retail outlet, you can find some extra deals online, including free shipping of some items over a certain amount, as well as coupons.


94. eCost.com: eCost.com is one of the best online discount warehouses out there, specializing in computer hardware, software, and electronics. They say their most unique characteristic is the fact that they keep the customer in mind at all times and have customer service representatives online to help with confusing purchases. Their signature marketing ploy is the “Bargain Countdown” section, which offers a small amount of a product at a really low price for a given time period. It's definitely an “act fast” sort of deal that serious shoppers will want to monitor daily.


95. Smart Shop: Smart Shop is another discount site dedicated to bring consumers the best prices on electronic and computer equipment and household appliances. With warehouses located throughout the country, Smart Shop promises customers a quick turnaround time on their purchases. Their homepage conveniently features items that are “hot”, as well as those on sale.


96. E Half Off.com: This site has teamed up with Overstock.com to bring you great prices on products – some of which have been discounted to the tune of 80 percent! Like Overstock and most other discount shopping networks, E Half Off makes its money when other retail businesses buy more than they need. They have over 750,000 products available and offer a flat shipping fee of $2.95, no matter how big your order.


97. Sidestep: It's hard to know whether to categorize Sidestep as a price comparison site or a discount shopping site. Really, it's both. Sidestep is an easy-to-use site that helps consumers find the cheapest flights around by performing a search of all airline websites and airline search sites. In the end, you can mix up your destination airports and times to find the best price. An incredible tool for the frequent or infrequent traveler.


98. Woot: Woot operates on the principle of “one day, one deal,” and it's a great concept. Every day, Woot features one item for sale that has been deeply, deeply discounted. That's it. You either purchase it or you don't. Unsure what to do? Consult Woot's active blog and user forum for product reviews.


99. Craigslist: Craigslist is a different kind of marketplace altogether. While it's not an online merchant, it is more than entirely possible to find the best deals on used products on this free classified site. Maybe you're in the market for a bike and a new apartment? Craigslist has you covered. It's the most comprehensive online bulletin board and it's the perfect spot for the discount shopper who doesn't care about having everything brand new.


100. eBay: You didn't think we'd forget did you?!? Last but not least is one of the more popular online shopping destinations for buyers and merchants alike. eBay allows for competitive shopping by having buyers bid on products within a certain timeframe. Merchants can also rake in the cash selling stuff they just don't need anymore. It's a virtual online yard sale where the savvy shopper can find just what they need.